Trending Topics

Colo. officer injured after being struck by suspected DUI driver

Colorado State Trooper Tyler Atkins had to be airlifted to a hospital after a driver struck his cruiser while he was inside; he has since been released and is expected to recover

By Brennen Kauffman
The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A Colorado State Patrol trooper was struck and injured Wednesday afternoon while responding to a crash on Colorado Highway 115 south of Colorado Springs.

Colorado State Patrol Trooper Tyler Atkins was injured Wednesday afternoon after responding to a crash on Highway 115. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital but has since been released and is recovering at home.

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation and the Colorado State Patrol , the state trooper, identified as Trooper Tyler Atkins, was working on a previous accident near the intersection of Highway 115 and Little Turkey Creek Road around 3:44 p.m. when his patrol vehicle was struck by a driver. The trooper was inside the vehicle when it was hit.

A photo shared by the state patrol from the crash scene show a patrol vehicle with significant rear end damage.

State Patrol said Trooper Atkins was airlifted to a nearby hospital for treatment but has since been released. The trooper is currently at home recovering, according to officials.

The other driver, who State Patrol said is suspected of driving under the influence, was taken to a hospital by ambulance. No other injuries were reported.

Highway 115 was closed in both directions while the crash was investigated by the Vehicular Crimes Unit. The Department of Transportation marked the highway reopened as of 6:11 p.m.

The name of the other driver have not been released. State Patrol said Wednesday night no charges had been filed pending the crash investigation.

The crash was the same day as the memorial parade for a Golden Police Officer who was struck and killed while on duty Nov. 6. Colorado State Patrol said this was the second time one of their patrol vehicles has been hit by a driver this month.

___

(c)2024 The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Visit The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.) at www.gazette.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Trending
Otero County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Jacob Diaz-Austin fired 19 shots at the 17-year-old who presented “what appeared to be a firearm,” according to New Mexico State Police
Brazoria County Deputy Jesus Vargas, working with a U.S. Marshals task force, was fatally shot while serving a warrant for a repeat offender
Footage provided by the Ledyard PD shows the stolen cruiser speed over a spike strip, seconds after which an officer moves it out of the path of a pursuing cruiser
The charges involved three alleged looting incidents in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena, where fires have burned 35,000 acres and destroyed more than 12,000 structures